I'm a K-5 librarian living in Kansas. I am married, have one daughter, a son-in-law, and 2 wonderful granddaughters. I am addicted to knitting! If I could knit all day, I would be in heaven.
Ugh… This was not a good weekend! I had that horrible stomach flu and did not get anything done. I wanted to re-pot plants and get some sewing and crafting done. Instead I spent the weekend on the couch or in bed. We have Spring Break next week so I hope to catch up on EVERYTHING!!
Since I lost my weekend and all that wonderful craft time, I decided I would let you help me catch up! I’m posting Pinterest links to five craft/sewing projects I want to do and am letting you choose my next project! Comment below to let me know which one I should make. The one with the most comments is the one I will make! I’ll post the results and the project next week!
My granddaughter had her preschool graduation last night. There were seven graduating preschoolers and they were so cute in their little caps & gowns! They walked down the aisle to their seats and were so excited. The kids did a very good job.
The program was cute. They sang songs they learned this year, such as the Alphabet Song, Months of the Year and Fun in Preschool. Each student received a diploma and large bottle of bubbles. The kids were also supposed to each receive a balloon but one balloon spontaneously exploded popped so the balloons were used to decorate the classroom instead. The lead teacher said that in her 13 years of preschool graduations, this is the 1st time a balloon popped.
Each graduate gave their mom a yellow rose and at the end, they yelled, “Kindergarten here we come!” Then it was time for pictures and cake. I’m sure the kids thought the cake was the best part!
One of the things I’ve vowed to do it plan meals! I’m trying to lose weight and have been on Weight Watchers for a while now. I haven’t been losing like I want and the main reason is because I have not been planning! If I don’t plan it, I don’t do it. Below is what I’m planning to eat this week.
Breakfast
My breakfast is pretty predictable. I may mix it up once in a while but it’s usually the same ‘ole stuff.
During the school year, my lunches consist of leftovers or a WW Smart Ones, fruit and/or veggies, Yoplait Greek 100 yogurt (love this stuff!) and a Diet Dr. Pepper or iced tea.
Supper I’m only planning 4 meals because I’m off to Oklahoma for the weekend and I’m sure my husband will make pizza one night this week.
Whole wheat pasta with jarred spaghetti sauce, salad with balsamic vinegar and oil, broccoli, skim milk and fruit
Baked tilapia with lemon, salad, dinner roll, green beans and fruit
That’s how long it’s been since I last posted. I would like to say that school starts and I get too busy with lesson planning, grading, and all the work that comes with teaching. That would not be true though. There are many nights and weekends that I just sit on the couch and watch TV when I could be working on my blog.
I decided I need a written plan posted in plain sight so I get things done!! I’ve been busy working on a blog planner and will post what I use at a later time. I took ideas and pages from planners I found online so will be sure to credit those wonderful people who put in tons of work!
Right now I want to talk about what has been happening lately.
My biggest news is that I have a new granddaughter! She was born March 12 (I love even numbers), exactly 4 months after her sister’s 5th birthday. It is wonderful that they live in the same town as I do. I get to see them whenever I want!.
My Grandkids
My oldest granddaughter is 5 now and just finished up with soccer. It’s the 1st time she has ever played any type of team sport and let’s just say soccer isn’t her forte. You know the kid who wanders aimlessly around, maybe picking dandelions off the field? That would be my granddaughter. I finally figure out how to get her to run with the others though. Have both grandmas at the game with cameras pointed towards her!
I will say she provided lots of comic relief. She came running around the field one time and as she ran past us, she yelled “Dad I have to potty!” and just kept running towards the bathroom. Then there was the game that she was running down the field and decided she was tired so she laid down! There were several times she was standing on the field as the ball flew past her. Of course she was looking at the clouds or facing the other direction at the time so it’s no wonder she didn’t see the ball.
She did get some kicks in though and had some good plays. However a couple of times, she kicked the ball and her shoe flew farther than the ball. She was on a roll one game and was running the ball down the field with the ball. She was far ahead of the other girls…because the ref blew the whistle. Finally before she got to the goal, she realized what was going on. She didn’t care though, she’s only 5 after all. She had some fun, which at 5 is the main goal but said she didn’t like playing. Her last game was yesterday and all the girls got a small trophy with their name and number and the team name on it. As we were driving back to her house, she happily exclaimed, “I can’t wait to play next year!” We’ll see kid, we’ll see.
She is enrolled in T-ball. Grandpa bought her a glove, ball and t-ball post. She spent Friday night with us and played t-ball for almost 2 hours, then woke up on Saturday wanting to play. I think she may like that a little better than soccer.
Congratulations to lataevea entrant #45! She won the National Geographic Field Guide to the Water’s Edge. I’ve emailed her and will get that out to you ASAP.
At work we have food days every so often and this past Wednesday we had one for Administrative Assistants Day – because ours is awesome!! School would not run without her. Anyway, I decided to make a Hummingbird Cake. Unfortunately I took it out too early and it caved. You know what I mean. So I decided I would also make cookies. I found these cookies on food.com. It just calls for peanut butter, sugar and an egg. I thought it needed something other than plain white sugar. Plus I can’t imagine a peanut cookie without … brown sugar of course!
Start with…
1 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
I put all the ingredients in a bowl
I then used a fork and mixed it all together. I kept wondering if this was going to work.
Finally I took a small amount, rolled it into a ball and then rolled it in additional white sugar. I cooked it at 350 for about 12 minutes. And guess what? It worked!
They are little soft when they first come out so be sure to let them cool. Of course if one does break …
… then you have to eat it. I know, it’s a shame. I got 22 cookies out of the recipe. Took it to work and brought home an empty container! Always a good sign. They are definitely sweet and go great with a glass a milk.
If you try them, let me know how they turned out for you. hope you like them too!
I love to travel! I love the beach! When I was a child, we moved to Mallorca, Spain, an island in the Mediterranean . We lived on the beach and I fell in love with it! I love the water and walking along the beach exploring the plant and animal life. If I could live anywhere, it would be somewhere tropical on the beach. So when I came across the National Geographic book Field Guide to the Water’s Edge I couldn’t resist it. Printed in May 2012, it covers everything you could possibly want to know about beaches, rivers, and shorelines. It provides information about plants and animals you might find along rivers, lakes, ponds, and oceans. And since it’s National Geographic, the photos are fantastic!
Plus it has a list of the All Time Top 20 Beaches in the United States, the 10 Top Rivers, and the 5 Top Great Lakes places to visit. If you love the water, this is a must have book!
The contest is open to U.S and Canada residents only. Winner will be chosen at random Monday April 29. To enter click on the picture of the book!
I have finished another dish towel. I used the Double Bump Dish Cloth pattern found on Ravelry. It was a nice easy knit and something I was able to do while I sat in meetings all last weekend.
Dish cloths are a great way to try new stitches and they are useful! I decided I would knit until I used all of the yarn and this is what I came up with…
My Double Bump Dishcloth
Since it was a dishcloth for me (and to be used) I didn’t block it. It measures 14″ x 8″ – hard to tell in the picture, isn’t it! And this is terrible but I don’t know if this is Peaches and Cream or Sugar ‘n Cream yarn but I do know that it is one or the other. I’ve had this yarn forever and lost the label a long time ago. From the feel of the yarn, I would say it was Peaches and Cream.
I have already started the next dish cloth. It’s called the Raindrop Dishcloth. The circle at the bottom of the dishcloth is made by making several new stitches from one stitch. That might sound complicated but it’s really fairly simple and I can knit while watching TV. I’m knitting it in Lily Sugar ‘n Cream bright navy, I think. Again I’ve lost the label but I’m fairly sure that is what it is. I’ll post a pic when it’s done but below is the pic from the pattern. I don’t think it’ll look as nice in the navy as it does in the light colors but it should still be pretty.
After 17″ of snow the last couple of days, I decided to make chili! I have a go to recipe I use which would not win any Chili cook off competitions but I like it. The original recipe comes from a Better Homes and Garden cookbook my mom gave me back in the 80’s. I love that cookbook! I don’t really follow the recipe anymore, I just throw the stuff together. Below is basically what I do. I will tell you that I usually add more chili powder than what I have listed. The original recipe calls for 2 tsp. but who would put only 2 tsps. in chili!?!
My Chili
Ingredients
1 pound extra lean ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic minced
Olive oil I use a WW oil sprayer
1 green pepper chopped (I didn’t have a green pepper so I left it out)
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 15 oz can red kidney beans drained
1 tbsp chili powder more or less to taste
1/2 tsp dried basil
salt to taste
black pepper to taste
Directions
Brown ground beef along with onion and garlic in a sauce pan coated with olive oil. Drain and add remaining ingredients. Cook at least 30 minutes.
When I was in college, too many years ago, I knew a woman from India. She was a student and was living with her aunt and uncle. Her uncle was a professor at Oklahoma State. I never had him, he was a math professor and I was not a math person at all! I took college algebra and that was it. As a teacher, stats was required but I found a class that met the requirement but was not a complete stats course. It was much easier and my brain did not explode as it may have if I had to take stats.
But I digress. I started this post to tell you about the India Snack Mix recipe I got from my Indian friend. Her aunt created the recipe based on a recipe from India but it used product she could find in the U.S. such as corn chex. It is soooooo good and I make it for my classes during Discover Languages Month in February. The kids always love it and ask for the recipe. It does have one ingredient, hing, that I have never included because I haven’t found it in the small town stores I shop. However, with Internet shopping, I can buy it online. I’ll have to do that.
If you try it, let me know if you liked it (or not).
The picture is one that someone took and posted on my recipe on Food.com.
2 cups Corn Chex
2 cups shredded wheat cereal, crushed
3 cups Rice Krispies
1 (12 ounce) package chow mein noodles
1 tablespoon red pepper powder or 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons mustard seeds
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1/8 teaspoon hing (Can be found in international grocery stores or omit)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
12 ounces Spanish peanuts
3/4 cup cooking oil
1/2 cup chopped onion, added to each serving
1/2 cup lemon juice, added to each serving
DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, mix cereals together. Do not mix in noodles.
Heat oil in a large skillet. Fry mustard seeds and cumin seeds well.
Add noodles and heat for approximately 2 minutes.
Add other spices and mix well. Mix in peanuts. Add two handfuls of the cereal mix and mix well. Add oil mix to remaining cereal mix in bowl and stir well.
Place in baking dish and cook in 250 degree oven for 25 – 30 minutes.
Serve in individual bowls. For each serving, stir in 1 tablespoon chopped onions and 1 tablespoon lemon juice, more or less to taste.
You can also add more red pepper if you like foods that are EXTREMELY hot. Serve with something cold to drink.
Breakfast
Crafty Commons 